Michael Owen will have cost Newcastle United a staggering £45 million when he comes off contract in June.

A Newcastle source told the People: "By the time you take in the transfer fee, the wages and national insurance, agents fees and all the bits and pieces which a club has to pay these days you are looking around £45m as the total figure for Michael Owen."

When Owen led Newcastle out at Blackburn a week past Saturday it was only his 51st start for the club in the Premier League, but he has still chipped in with 30 League and Cup goals. Indeed one of Owen's backers said: "It's not Michael's fault that he has cost so much.

"He did not fix the transfer fee or his wages.

"And make no mistake about it, he will be the best ever Bosman when his contract with Newcastle expires in the summer. And the best thing from Michael's point of view is that he is in control of his own situation and destiny now."